In reply to steady63:
Most of us live longer nowadays, and stay fit a lot longer too. If your youngest is only 3 weeks old, and you have two others, I would advise putting the Alps to the back of your mind for a little while yet. Even if your wife agrees to *let* you go, she won't be happy. The mountains will still be there when the kids are a bit older, and once they are all in school, September becomes an obvious time when you can go while causing minimum domestic disruption.
There is nothing more frustrating than going through all that domestic politics and booking a trip - and then spending your time watching the rain lash down through the window of a Chamonix bar. Believe me - I've been there.
A few tips for when you do re-start. In winter, the weather is often more stable. If you stick to the less popular part of the ski season (late January, March) you can book a trip at short notice, when the forecast is good - if you have work flexibility. If not, then you can always ski if conditions are poor - or learn to ski if you don't. Another suggestion: aim for lower regions (the Dolomites or Bregaglia, for example) where acclimatisation is less important and you may be able to come back with some worthwhile routes after only a week.
And when the kids are older, there is nothing better than climbing, skiing and (in my case) caving with them. I got a text from my almost 22 year old daughter last week saying she wants to do the Matterhorn with me next summer. Yay!
Post edited at 10:50
